Folding mechanism



Oct. 18, 1932. H. A. w. wooD FOLDING MECHANI SM original Filed oct. 28,1926 v sheets-sheet 1 .255 WA flare-7,605.

f'27 darn-...n www C. .i (M

Oct. 1.8, 1932. H. A. w. woon 1,883,226

FOLDING MECHANI SM Original Filed Oct. 28, 1926 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Qctf.18, 1932. H. A. w. wboD 1,883,226

FOLDING MECHANISM original Filed oct. 28, 1926 7 sheets-Sheet 5 Or. 1s,1932,

H. A. W. `WCOD FOLDING MEGHANISM '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Oct.28. 1926 H. A. W. WOOD FOLDING MECHANI SM Oct. 18, 1932.

7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Oct. 28, 1926v NSY l! 40W..

Wil.

CT. ffm

` Oct. 18, 1932. H. A; w. wooD FOLDING MECHANISM 'original Filed Oct.28, 1926 7 Sheets-Sheetv 6 Z5/dew Weiz/4 7//fe 70nd if "rf WE1 Oct. 18,1932.

H.AA. w. WOOD FOLDING MECHANISM 7 shader-'sheet 7 Original Filed Oct.28, 1926 Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES HENRY A. WISE WOOD, 0F NEWYORK,

N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO W'OOI) NEWSPAPER MACHINERY CORPORATION, 0F NEW.YORI{,N. Y., A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA FOLDING MEGHANISM Originalapplication filed October 28, 1926, Serial No. 144,877. Divided and thisapplication led November 18, 1929, Serial No. 507,953. Renewed Mayll,1932.

The principal objects of the invention are' to provide a foldingmechanism in such relation to the press as to take up comparativelysmall space laterally and secure exact synchronism in its operation withthepress; to

design the presses and folder Vso that their' frames can be made up ofseparate parts united and oined to the other units without finishing theadjacent parts and avoiding the production of noise by the vibration ofthe elements to provide improvements in the cutting and .foldingcylinders, and in .fact throughout the folding mechanism, whereby theweb can be slit andV run into the folding mechanism 'along differentpaths and delivered in either direction without having to dismount theparts; and in general to so combine thes'e several'parts that a machineis secured which will run with few stoppages,

comparatively littlev oversight and produce a completed product in y auniform manner and at the same time will take' up a comparatively smallamount of floor space.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Y Fig. 1 isa side view of a folding mechanism constructed in accordance with thisinvention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing the connecting `parts between thefolder and the nearest press unit and also the path lof the web from oneto the other;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the folder;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a part of the same with the fan reversed;

Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views of the delivery operating as shown inFigs. 3 and 4 respectively;

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the end of the drag roll and associated parts;

Fig. 8 is an end view of the same;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal central sectional view, partly in elevation,through the centers of the folding and Ycutting cylinders, and

Fig. 10 is an end view of the same.

I have illustrated a press unit A provided with a vfolder C located atthe end of the printing unit. In thiscase, the drive is through theimpression cylinder shaft 12. The shaft 12, I call the driving' shaftand it is provided with an extension rigidly mounted on the end, coupleddirectly by a coupling 15 to a shaft 18 which drives the folder C. Thesedriving shafts, are located at the samelevcl, namely the level of allthe impression cylinders, so vertical shafts are eliminated with theirgears.

This machine is set up throughout in accordance with the process setvforth in my Patent No. 1,498,769, granted June 24, 1924.

For example it will be seenin Fig. 2 that' there are a number of seatson the drawings marked 7. `In each of these places the parts ofthe frameare connected together by the casting of the seats y7 on thel twoconnected parts, or shafts, or rods are mounted by the casting ofbearings 8in accordance with said patent. In this Way the parts of themachine are assembled without finishing and thus at a material saving incost. Noise of vibration is also reduced as it is transmitted from onepart to another. I have used the numerals 7 and 8 to designate theseforms ofconnection throughout the several sheets of drawings andlwithoutreference to the shape and special construction of the variousseats and bearings to which it is applied. The machine can be assembledin the old Way, however. i

, The folding machine frame 9 and the press unit are connected togetherby a base 4 at the bottom and by frames 6 at the top. The frames 3 and 9carry soft metal seats 7 at their lower ends having contact with similarseats on the base 4. The frame Gis shorter than the distance between theframe 3 of the printing unit and the frame 9 of the folding unit. Thesurfaces that are closely adjacent to each other in the assembledstructure are Cil - ing cylinder.

` shaft 35a.

cast with depressions to be filled, instead of projections to befinished. These dovetailed depressions are used in the condition inwhich they are cast. The spaces between are filled with soft metal inthe form of seats 7 such as have been described above. The soft metalseats transmit the vibrations practically without noise and, in fact,diminishes the amplitude of vibration. Bolts are intrduced through them,or other fastening devices as may be desired, but are not describedherein in detail as they arev shown in my prior applications and patentabove mentioned.

By reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the webs W and W1 aredivided in two and I call the extra webs W2 and W3. They are broughtalong up to the drag roll 16 in substantially the same relationship asthat in which they left the slitter 10, being carried over turning bars.They are separated at some point in their travel and are guided overfour separate compensator rollers 17. These compensator rollers in eachcase are mounted on levers 17, one end of each of which is provided Witha poppet and screw thread' for receiving an adjusting screw 18 which isoperated by a hand wheel .19 fixed thereon.

Four of these are indicated in Fig. 2 for the separate adjustment of thefour webs into which the two webs have been slitted in the mannerdescribed. These parts are mounted on the frame 6.

The folding machine'which is mounted on the frame 9 has the shaft 18previously referred to as its main shaft. This is driven from the shaft12 of the nearest printing unit through a coupling and it carries thefoldwhee ica. y 22, Aboth mounted on a frame 23 pivoted'for adjustment.Y

The shaft 24 is carried by brackets 25 fixed 2() which, by a chain 21drives a shaft l to the frame by seats 7 and carries a bevel gear 26which is driven by bevel gear 27 on the shaft 16a. Carried by thebrackets 25 at the two ends of the folding machine is a shaft 28extending across on which are fixed arms 29, arms 30 and an operatinglever 31. This operating lever has -an arcuate slot 32 into whichextends a. screw 33 having 'a projection at the end by which Yit isscrewed up to hold up `the lever 31 in any position in which it isplaced. The arm 30 has a hole through it for the pin 34 which is pressedby a spring against a shaft 35a. through which the pin passes. One endof the lever 35 is bifurcated and provided with holes for carrying theThis shaft is free to rotate and is adapted to receive the threaded endof the pin 34. This pin has a head 36 which can be pulled down to takethe pressure of a spring 37. Normally the springVY forces thev leverupwardly at that end and forces a pro- On this shaft 18 is a sprocketAThe chain passes over idlersprocketssimultaneously by the operatinglever 31 and eachone of them can be released by its nut or head 36independently of the others.

This drag roll is located in position to receive half the width of webfrom the presses and as each web is slit in two parts it carries w fourwebs. It delivers the slit webs to the former 39 and through formingrolls 40 and nipping rolls 42. One of the latter is yieldingly pressedagainst the other by a spring pressed pin 43. The web goes down throughthese between the folding cylinder and the cutting and collectingcylinder 46 which constitutes a part of the couple.

It will be remembered that theY folding cylinder shaft 18 is coupled bythe coupling 15 directly to the impression cylinder shaft of theadjacent printing unit. Also the sprocket wheel 2O on the shaft 18drives the drag roll. The shaft 18 is mounted on the frame 9 by softmetal bearings 8 at both ends and also the cutting and collectingcylinder 46 has its shaft mounted on the frame by similar bearings sothat there need be no finishing of the frame in order to set theseshafts and cylinders in proper position thereon. l

The shaft 18 is provided with -a gear 41 which drives a gear 44 on theshaft of the cutting cylinder 46 to drive the same. A gear 47 fixed onthe shaft 18 4drives a gear 48 loose on the shaft of vthecuttingcylinder 46. The gear 48 is provided with a cam groove 50 which operatesa roll 51 on an arm 52 carried by the pin shaft 53. This shaft also hasyarms 54 which, in accordance with the action of the cam, drives the pinrods 55. The pins operate in substantially the usual way in the usualguides. The cutting cylinder is provided with a knife 56 and cheek-block57 which are located and operated as described in my applications aboveidentified. The folding and nipping' rolls are driven by a sprocketchain 58 from a sprocket wheel 59 on the shaft of the cutting cylinder.

Mounted about the shaft of the folding cylinder is a cam 60 fixed on theframe and having an internal Vcam surface for operating two rollers 61.These rollers are on an arm 62 carried by opposite longitudinal shafts63 on the folding cylinder. Arms 64 extend outwardly on the oppositesides of these shafts and in opposite directions. They are connectedtogether by a spring 65 across the end of' the cylinder to normally holdthese rollers 61 outwardly in Contact with the internal cam 60. Theseshafts 63 also have arms 66 for operating the pin rods 67 mounted inguides 68, for performing the iop usual function of the pins on thefolding cylinder. Y

Also mounted on one of the soft metal bearings 8 and fixed to the frame9y by a screw is a stationary gear 71 which, as

Jhe folding cylinder rotates, operates,through single intermediate,gears 72 carried by t-he cylinder on shafts 7 3. These shafts aremounted on apart of the cylinder by soft metal bearings 8 `constructedlike the other bearings of this kind. The shafts 78 carry the usualfolding blades 74 and operate them to bring them into the properposition for folding at the bottom of the folding cylinf der asis wellunderstood in this art.

. ing roll is driven Vfrom the stationary one by a pair of gears on therear ends of the folding roll shafts. f

Below the folding rolls the folded product of course is -delivered to afan 80. This fan is mounted on a shaft 81 whichis driven by a chain 82from a sprocket wheel 83 on the shaft of the cutting cylinder'46. Thefanshaft is mounted in bearings on the frame 9 preferably. by means ofmetal bearings 8 as previously described and its blades are'designed asusual for receiving, the foldec product between them. It is shown inFigs. 4 and 6 .as in position to deliver to the left. It is providedwith a guide 86 whichy directs the product into the fan and stops therotation of the product when it reaches the lowermost point. The upperend of the guide is fixed to one of two rods 86a and the bottom on theshaft 91 or 91a.

I have shown .tighteners 87 for the chain 82 and 88 for the chain 89which drives a sprocket wheel 90 from the fan belt shaft 81. Thesprocket wheel 90 is on a shaft 91' on which is the counter disc 92.This counter' disc has the usual notch 98 for the counting roll 94. Thisroll is mounted on an arm pivoted on a shaft 95 and held against theedge of the counter disc 92 by a spring 96. The spring is adjustable bymeans of a slot 97 in the end for a bolt by which the end is held to alug 98 on the frame.V The shaft 95 supports the guide 85 which extendsup between the vanes of the fan for the usual purpose. Y l

The delivery belts 99 are carried by a set of pulleys 100 on the shaft91 and a set of pulleys 101 carriedby a shaft mounted on a pair ofbrackets 102 constituting a tape delivery frame which is detachable andadapted to be liXed on either side of the main frame 9. These brackets102 are hung on a shaft 104 or 95@l and have extended lugs 108` forengaging against the frame of the machine. On this cross shaft also arearms 105 carrying tightener pulleys 106 for the delivery belts 99. Itwill be seen from Fig. 6 that these parts are designed to deliver theproducts at the left in bunches as stated. This counter works in theusual way and the papers come down to the same and are stopped by theguide 86. They are dropped by the fan on the delivery belts 99 andbunched in bunches of fifty or one hundred, or any other number as maybe provided for by the setting of the counter in its construction. Nowreferring to Figs. 8 and 5 it will be seen that the delivery mechanismis reversed but the same elements are employed. In the first place thefan is taken off its shaft and turned around end for end. The drive forthe fan is changed so that the driving chain 82, or if desired adierentchain 82a, is driven from a sprocket wheel 81 ont-he foldingcylinder shaft 18. Thisobviously reverses the direction of the fan andcauses the fan to deliver ,in the opposite direction. Additionalchangesare made as follows: Y The guides are taken ofi" the shaft 95 and put onthe shaft a. The counter and connected parts are taken off the shaft 91.reversed, Vand put on the shaft 91a. The roll 94 and its arm on theshaft 95 is placed on the shaft 95a. Itis 'connected as before with thespring 96 but that `spring extends in the l opposite direction andinstead of being connected with the lugV 98 it is connected with the lug98a on the same side' of the frame. Likewise the tightener 88 which ismounted on the bolt vthat connects thespring with the lug is placed onthe lug 98a andperforms the same function on the belt 89 as before butis on the opposite side. The chain tightener 87 also is used for thesame chain 82 but in a different position. The reversal of the fan ofcourse necessitates Vthe reversal of the guides 86. For that purposethey are removed from the shaft 91a and put on the shaft 91. The papersare stopped goingr in the opposite direction, but in the same positionat the bottom of the fan by the guidesl 86 located in the new place.

In this way it will be seen that the reversal of the delivery can bebrought about in a very simple way by turning the fan end for end andreversing the counter with its parts and the guides, etc. Also thebrackets 102 are Vreversed and put on the other end of the machine. IfVit is desired to support the longer delivery belts at a point betweenpulleys and 101, a set of pulleys 107 are used. They are mounted onbrackets 108 similar to the brackets 102 pivoted on the same shaft Y Lil-It will be seen therefore that the-folding machine is driven directlyfrom one of the printing couple shafts of the printing chine withoutintermediate gearing, that it is all mounted on one frame, and has meansfor driving the` drag rolll and carrying the products from the dragroll'to the delivery belts on that frame. Also various parts are mountedon this frame by means of seats cast into place to avoid the finishingof the parts of the frame and cooperating elements. The folding anddelivery ofthe products is done by the usual process in machines of thishind, but the reversal of the delivery is an important improvement andthere are new details of construction. It will be observed that theparts are s0 associated as to permit of high speed and economicalassembly of the m21-, chine. This folder is adapted to be set up withhigh speed printing press units and to receive the products of aplurality'of them and deliver their products in the form of completednewspaper sections at a very high speed all counted automatically.

Although I lhave illustrated and described xonly a single form of. theinvent-ion I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made thereinby any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the-invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wisht'o belimited to all the details of construction herein shown and described,but what I do claim is 1. In a foldingv machine, the combination with aformer and a drag roll mounted to deliver thereto, of a series ofpropellers, levers on which said propellers are mounted, springs forindividually operating saidv levers to force the propellers against thedrag roll, a shaft having projections on which said levers are pivotedand. provided with a handle, whereby saidshaft can be turned to move allthe propellers into or out of contact with the drag roll, and means forholding the handle in either extreme position, said springs beingadjustable independently so that the operation of the handle will notaffect their adjustments. l

2. kIn a folding machine, the' combination with a folding cylinder and acutting cylinder, of a pair of shafts on the folding cylinder, eachhaving arms fixed thereto and projecting in opposite directions, aspring across the cylinder for connecting two of said arms,

a cam fixed in position, rolls on the other arms for engaging said camand operating the arms in opposition to the springs, as the foldingcylinder rotates, and pin rods operated by said shafts under the controlof said cam.

3. In a folding machine, the combination with a folding cylinder, of ashaft on the folding cylinder having an arm fixed thereto, a spring, acam, a roll on the arm for engagingl said cam and operating the arm inopposition to the spring, as the folding cylinder rotates,

anda pin rod operated'fby said'shaft under the control of said cam.

4L. In a folding machine, the combination with thefolding and cuttingcylinder, of a fan for receiving the folded product therefanlocatedbelow them for receiving the i folded product therefrom,.acounter cooperating with the fan, delivery belts in proper relation tothe counter and fan to receive the counted products therefrom, meanswhereby the fan can be reversed to deliver in opposite directions, andsprocket wheels on the folding and cutting cylinder shaftsforindependently driving the fan from the cutting cylinder shaft when thefan is to deliver in one direction and from the folding cylinder shaftwhen itis to deliver in the opposite direction.

6. In a delivery for a folding' machine, the combination with a fan, thefan being reversible end for end, means for driving the fan in oppositedirections in its two positions, of a counter disc adapted to bereversed and mounted in either of two positions according to thedirection of rotation of the fan, a

counter roll, and an arm for carrying thel the fan can be reversed endfor end, means for driving the fan in opposite directions in its twopositions, a counter adapted to be mounted on a shaft in either of twopositions, accordingto the direction of rotation of the fan, and acounter roll, of an arm for carrying the counter roll, said arm beingadapted to be mounted on a shaft in either one of two positions on theframe to cooperate with the fan in its two different positions.

8. In a delivery for a folder, the combination with a fan shaft, a fanladapted to be mounted on said sha-'ft either end around, so that thefan may deliver in opposite directions in its two settings, two countershafts and two counter cam roll shafts, of a counter disc and counterVcam roll adapted to be changed from one shaft Vto the other and reversedwhen the fan is reversed.

9. In a delivery for a folding machine, the combination with a fan,means whereby the fan can be reversed end for end, means for driving thefan in opposite directions in its two positions, a counter adapted to bemounted on a shaft in either of two positions according to the directionof rotation of the isc fan, and a counter roll, of an arm for carryingthe counter roll, said arm being adapted to be mounted on a shaft ineither one of two positions on the frame t0 cooperate with the fan inits two different positions, and a spring for holding the roll againstthe counter cam adapted to be revers-ed with the counter'cam roll, saidframe having two lugs in each of which the other end of the spring issecured in accordance with the position of said shaft on the frame.

10. In a delivery for a folder, the combination with a frame havingbearings for a fan shaft, of a fan adapted to be mounted either endaround, so that the fan may deliver in opposite directions in its twosettings, a counter, a counter cam roll, both adapted to be changed fromone shaft to another when the fan is reversed, a shaft mounted at eachside of the frame, and a delivery tape frame adapted to be hung oneither shaft across the main frame and projecting therefrom, said framehaving a shaft provided with delivery tape pulleys thereon.

11. In a delivery for a folder, the combination with a fan shaft, a fanadapted to be mounted on said shaft either end around, so that the fanmay deliver in opposite directions in its two settings, two countershafts, and two counter cam roll shafts, of a counter disc and countercam roll adapted to be changed from one shaft to the other and reversedwhen the fan is reversed, a delivery tape frame adapted to be hung on ashaft across the main frame and projecting therefrom, said frame havinga shaft at its end provided with delivery tape pulleys and having lugsprojecting into contact with the main frame below its pivot shaft tohold it in position, and tape tightener pulleys carried by said deliverytape frame, the main frame having two shafts for said delivery tapeframe at opposite sides, whereby the delivery tape frame can betransferred from one side of the main frame to the other for delivery inopposite directions.

supported in bearings on either side of the frame, a delivery tape frameadapted to be pivoted on either of the latter shafts, a shaft andpulleys on the delivery tape frame for supporting the tapes locatedbeyond the side of the frame, and a third frame pivoted on one of saidshafts and projecting inwardly toward the counter shaft and havingsupporting pulleys thereon for the delivery tapes when the deliverytapes are run in one direction.

v In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature. Y

HENRY A. WISE WOOD.

l2. In a delivery for a folding machine, the Y combination with a mainframe, of a pair of counter shafts and counter cam roll shafts, acounter disc adapted to be supported in position on either countershaft, pulleys thereon for the delivery tapes, two shafts supported inbearings on either side of the frame, a delivery tape frame adapted tobe pivoted on either of the latter shafts in a position to projectbeyond the end of the frame, and a shaft and pulleys thereon forsupporting the tapes.

13. In a delivery lfor a folding machine, the combination with a mainframe having a pair of counter shafts and counter cam roll shafts, of acounter disc and delivery tape pulleys adapted t0 be supported on eithercounter shaft, a counter cam roll adapted to be carried on either of thecam roll shafts for reversing the delivery, two cross shafts CERSATERRLCHN.

Patent No. 1,883,226. sfaebar 18, 1%2.

HENRY W WG9@ it is hereby cee wmf ma pxrinx Spsesic tien o the abovenumbered pam eq'irg fece as iai ws: En he h ixg to the n speciicaion,line 6, im Sera o. "5 az W29? @132 mi tha the sad Letters Patent shouldbe ma@ wma ibi 2 e s same may conform to the record 0f the sas@ in mawhat mme.

Signed and seae this; 28th ay m7 Mwah, i933 (Seal) Icmg lmfsmssmle aiPatents.

